A residents group which lives above the alignment of the proposed 4.5km long Dublin Port Tunnel is to lodge an appeal to the high court in an attempt to halt the scheme.
Under Irish law, the residents’ group, called ‘The Marino Development Action Group’, has until March 6 to register for a High Court judicial review of the decision for the scheme to go ahead. Spokesman for the group, Fintan Cassidy, told T&T International, "Originally our main concern was the use of the NATM method, given its track record, but more recently it’s been the involvement of Geoconsult."
Cassidy refers to recent reports in the UK construction press of Geoconsult’s failure to pay fines of $800 000 for it’s part in the 1994 Heathrow Tunnel collapse.
Hugh Creegan, Dublin Corporation deputy project engineer for the Dublin Port tunnel, says, "If an appeal is launched we (the Dublin Corporation) will hope for a rapid hearing and a swift resolution."
Although not in a position to comment on the effect of a judicial hearing on the project’s schedule, Creegan pointed out, "You have to remember, the project may not be an NATM constructed tunnel at all. The selected contractor will decide on the method, subject to satisfying safety criteria stated in the tender."
Currently, tender documents are in preparation for the design+build contract. These documents will then be sent out to the five pre-qualifying JVs.
